Baerbock in Russia: Ukraine conflict and Nord Stream 2 in focus

Created: 01/18/2022 10:54 am

By: Tobias Utz, Lukas Zigo

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is traveling to Moscow for talks after her visit to Ukraine.

Nord Stream 2 is once again in focus.

+++ 10.50 a.m .:

Annalena Baerbock and her colleague Lavrov want to go public in a few minutes.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

(Archive photo) © Michael Sohn/AP/dpa

First report from Tuesday, January 18th, 2022, 10.30 a.m.:

Moscow – The fronts in the Ukraine conflict seem to be deadlocked. After Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* (Greens*) visited Ukraine, she now wants to mediate a diplomatic solution in Moscow. In the run-up to her meeting with Russia's* Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, she emphasized Berlin's willingness to engage in dialogue in the Ukraine conflict*. "Today in Moscow I want to define my position: we want stable relations and are ready for a serious dialogue about steps to increase security for everyone in Europe," Baerbock tweeted on Tuesday morning. "Our benchmark remains the basic principles of our peace and security order."

Foreign Minister Baerbock and her counterpart Lavrov are meeting in Moscow at a time of great tension between Russia and the West.

At around 1:00 p.m. (local time, 11:00 a.m. CET), the two want to appear in front of the press.

Baerbock had already met her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba and President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Kiev on Monday (01/17/2022).

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

© Jörg Blank/dpa

Russia: Vladimir Putin demands security guarantees – western alliance rejects this

The West fears that Russia could prepare for an invasion of the neighboring country due to a massive Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine. Russia's government under Vladimir Putin* calls for security guarantees - including a written waiver of further eastward expansion. The western alliance rejects this.

Baerbock's central message that she had to convey in Moscow was: "We stand together as the European Union.

We won't let ourselves be divided," said the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Michael Roth (SPD*), on Tuesday in the ARD "Morgenmagazin"*.

In the conflict with Russia, the EU is relying on a "political-diplomatic solution," said the former Minister of State for Europe.

However, sanctions were also part of the “diplomatic toolbox”.

In the event of further Russian aggression against Ukraine, "everything must be put on the table".

Nord Stream 2: Roth does not want to rule out stopping the Baltic Sea pipeline

Contrary to some of his party colleagues in the SPD, Michael Roth spoke out in favor of not ruling out a stop in the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2*.

Germany must acknowledge that the issue of Nord Stream 2 has led to “great anger and division” in Europe from the start, Roth emphasized, referring to Poland, the Baltic States and Ukraine.

If sanctions actually have to be imposed, "then we cannot rule out things in advance that our partners in the European Union may demand."

With a view to Nord Stream 2 and the further behavior of Russia, the agreement between the US government and Russia* on this should also be considered, Roth further emphasized.

(lz/tu with dpa/AFP)